Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, that formed in 2004. The group's current line-up is composed of lead singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, bassist Andy Prince and drummer Tim Very. Hull is the band's only original member, having overseen every iteration of the band to date. Former drummer Jeremiah Edmond parted ways with the band in January 2010 to focus on his family and on running the band's record label, Favorite Gentlemen. The band's original bassist, Jonathan Corley, parted ways with the band in 2013. Keyboardist/percussionist Chris Freeman announced his departure from the band in September 2016.
Manchester Orchestra has released several extended plays and six studio albums to date: I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child (2006), Mean Everything to Nothing (2009), Simple Math (2011), Cope (2014) (as well as its accompanying acoustic version, Hope), A Black Mile to the Surface (2017), and The Million Masks of God (2021). They are signed to independent record label Favorite Gentlemen Recordings, which is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment and Loma Vista Recordings.
The band has performed at major music festivals such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Coachella, Riot Fest, Shaky Knees Music Festival, Firefly Music Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, and Austin City Limits Music Festival
Members:
Andy Hull - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano (2004-present)
Robert McDowell - lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2005-2007, 2008-present)
Tim Very - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2011-present)
Andy Prince - bass guitar (2013-present)
Former members:
Andrew Maysilles - drums, percussion (2004-2005)
Garrett Brown - lead guitar (2004-2005)
Jonathan Corley - bass guitar (2004-2013)
Chris Freeman - keyboards, additional drums, percussion, backing vocals (2006-2016)
Trevor Dowdy - lead guitar, keyboards (2007-2008)
Jeremiah Edmond - drums, percussion (2005-2009)
Benjamin Homola - drums, percussion (2010)
Len Clark - drums, percussion (2011)
Name Origin:
Manchester Orchestra originated in the Atlanta suburbs. They are named after the English city of Manchester, a city frequently viewed as being bohemian and also rich in musical history.
In an interview with Caught in the Crossfire, lead singer Andy Hull explained that he chose "Manchester" because he "had gone through a summer of listening to nothing but The Smiths", and "Orchestra" because he "didn't want to be in a band" and envisioned having "all [his] friends come and be a part of it and form an orchestra".
From: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genre(s):
Indie rock,
alternative rock,
post-hardcore
Active From: 2004-present